Window on the World

About 6 months ago we went to our local shelter to get a dog. There was a litter of 4 girls and 3 boys that was 5 months old. We got one of the girls. It was a rough couple of initial weeks where our lives got turned upside down, but then things started settling down more and more. 6 months after we got her, we've got a wonderful 11 month old dog, who is sweet and well socialized (doggy daycare and the dog park most days), although she's quite velcroed to me (to the annoyance of my wife) and probably quite used to being an only-dog at home at this point. We did a DNA test on her a while back and it turns out she is 50% Doberman and 50% German Shepherd. On the 6 month anniversary of getting our pup, I gave her a special chicken/banana/peanut butter dinner and that evening I was feeling a bit nostalgic so visited the social media page for the shelter we got her at (which I usually avoid). Imagine my horror when I see a posting on there from just the day before with pictures of

[Breeds] Considering getting a new dog in the near future after a traumatic experience https://ift.tt/eA8V8J I know there used to be a breeds survey one could fill out on here for posts like these, but I could not find it. Long story short, I recently had to do a behavioral euthanasia. I adopted an 85 lbs., 6 year old Boxer/Mastiff/Rottweiler mix from my local humane society about a year and a half ago. Eventually it came out that he had anxiety and aggression problems that gradually became worse. Dexter also showed signs of previous abuse. He bit a child and spent time in quarantine, bit me, etc. I lost my apartment (not because of him) and we had to move in with my friend who also had a dog, but was aware of and willing to work with Dexter's problems. I spent the summer working on socialization, desensitization, and in a constant state of hypervigilance preventing/breaking up dog fights. It worked somewhat, but eventually became too much for everybody involved. No shelter or rescue would take him because, as I later learned, their liability insurance policies forbid them from re-homing a dog with a history like his. It was decided that euthanasia was the best course of action. What's done is done and I'm not looking for "what ifs", after the fact recommendations, or judgement on my extremely difficult decision. Edit: The AutoMod supplied the breed questionnaire! Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? This will not be my first dog. I have experience teaching basic commands and leash training. I also have some experience working with dog aggressive dogs, but I do not want to do that again right now. Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder? I would like to go through a reputable breeder or adopt a retired show dog. I do not think rescuing is a good option for me at this time. I'm not ready to be put in another situation where I might have to escort a healthy animal to death's door. A friend also suggested adopting from a rescue where the animals are fostered in volunteers' homes, but I'm still unsure about not knowing the dog's background, genetics, or possible outcomes temperament-wise. Describe your ideal dog. My ideal dog would be fairly easy to train, moderate to bordering on high energy, a good size to travel with me in the car (weight limit at my apartment is 75 lbs.), prone to a friendly disposition towards people, children, cats, and dogs. A bonus would be if it sounded a little intimidating lol. What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? Australian Shepherds because they seem like smart, versatile dogs, Golden Retrievers....tbh I'm very open to all breeds What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? Basic obedience, just for fun tricks, I would love to do off leash training Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? I would love to try competing in agility and obedience. I have a bit of experience with obedience from 4-H, but I've never done agility. Care Commitments 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? I am home almost all day, most days, so I can interact with my dog as much as needed. Dexter had this ability to moderate his energy. When we were going he was really excited and ready, but when we weren't he would just sleep on the couch for hours. 8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? I can exercise my dog for an hour or two everyday. Exercise would include walking, trying dog parks, finding hiking trails, car rides...the dog would come with me as much as possible 9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? I would prefer not to have the extra expense of a groomer. I've done all of my dog grooming myself and I wouldn't be opposed to trying to learn how to do some trimming by watching YouTube videos or something. If I absolutely wasn't able to I would pay a professional. Personal Preferences 10) What size dog are you looking for? Weight limit in my apartment complex is 75 lbs. 11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? Minimal slobber and barking; shedding does not matter 12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? I would love to be able to train my dog off-leash Dog Personality and Behavior 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? Snuggly 14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? Eager-to-please 15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? I would like my dog to bark when someone knocks on the door, but not show aggression to strangers or visitors. 16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? No, I can't do that again at this time. 17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? I would like to avoid food aggression, separation anxiety, and aggression towards other dogs, cats, or people Lifestyle 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? It would really depend on what I'm doing that day. Probably would not exceed 8 or 9 hours on a really busy day. 19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? I live alone. 20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? I have a cat. 21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? Possibly. 22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? I rent. I believe the weight limit is 75 lbs. and the breed restrictions are the usual ones. 23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? I live in the United States. I am not aware of any breed bans in my area. 24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? Summer temperature 85-90 degrees Farenheit; winter temperature 30 degrees farenheit and below Additional Information and Questions 25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant. 26) Feel free to ask any questions below. dogs parkmeeae

I know there used to be a breeds survey one could fill out on here for posts like these, but I could not find it. Long story short, I recently had to do a behavioral euthanasia. I adopted an 85 lbs., 6 year old Boxer/Mastiff/Rottweiler mix from my local humane society about a year and a half ago. Eventually it came out that he had anxiety and aggression problems that gradually became worse. Dexter also showed signs of previous abuse. He bit a child and spent time in quarantine, bit me, etc. I lost my apartment (not because of him) and we had to move in with my friend who also had a dog, but was aware of and willing to work with Dexter's problems. I spent the summer working on socialization, desensitization, and in a constant state of hypervigilance preventing/breaking up dog fights. It worked somewhat, but eventually became too much for everybody involved. No shelter or rescue would take him because, as I later learned, their liability insurance policies forbid them from re-homing

[Discussion] Today is a festival (Kukur Tihar) in Nepal where dogs are worshipped and offered food. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J People offer garlands, Tika (red mark in the forehead) and delicious food to dogs and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and dogs. Dogs occupy a special place in Hindu mythology. In every home and street, they get special treatment on this day. As mentioned in the Mahabharata, Bhairawa, a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, had a dog as a vahana (vehicle). Yama, the god of death, is believed to own two guard dogs each with four eyes. The dogs are said to watch over the gates of Naraka, the Hindu concept of Hell. Picture: Dog being worshipped in Kukur Tihar by Nepal Police dogs pronepali

People offer garlands, Tika (red mark in the forehead) and delicious food to dogs and acknowledge the cherished relationship between humans and dogs. Dogs occupy a special place in Hindu mythology. In every home and street, they get special treatment on this day. As mentioned in the Mahabharata, Bhairawa, a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, had a dog as a vahana (vehicle). Yama, the god of death, is believed to own two guard dogs each with four eyes. The dogs are said to watch over the gates of Naraka, the Hindu concept of Hell. Picture: Dog being worshipped in Kukur Tihar by Nepal Police Submitted October 26, 2019 at 03:46AM by pronepali https://ift.tt/31TDA7K

[discussion] Messy water drinking dogs! What are your food/water bowl set ups? https://ift.tt/eA8V8J My husband I recently got new vinyl floors put in, and due to both my dogs being so messy when they drink water (dripping it everywhere), it appears it has started to warp and damage our floors. We usually have the food and water bowls on a food bowl mat; unfortunately I think the water is being trapped underneath, causing damage. Any suggestions? What do your dog bowl sets look like? Has anyone else had a similar issue? dogs Khahleesii

My husband I recently got new vinyl floors put in, and due to both my dogs being so messy when they drink water (dripping it everywhere), it appears it has started to warp and damage our floors. We usually have the food and water bowls on a food bowl mat; unfortunately I think the water is being trapped underneath, causing damage. Any suggestions? What do your dog bowl sets look like? Has anyone else had a similar issue? Submitted October 25, 2019 at 08:27PM by Khahleesii https://ift.tt/2Jom8lg

[Help] My dog is becoming the Dog Park Bicycle https://ift.tt/eA8V8J My dog, 1.5yr old lab/schnoodle mix can’t visit the dog park with out being humped by 5 or more different dogs. It’s different dogs every time and he’s been fixed since he was 6 months old. Not in danger of getting puppies but it can be a bit frustrating and I’m worried about an overly aggressive dog going after him or starting a fight. Any ideas? dogs 2888Tinman

My dog, 1.5yr old lab/schnoodle mix can’t visit the dog park with out being humped by 5 or more different dogs. It’s different dogs every time and he’s been fixed since he was 6 months old. Not in danger of getting puppies but it can be a bit frustrating and I’m worried about an overly aggressive dog going after him or starting a fight. Any ideas? Submitted October 25, 2019 at 11:09PM by 2888Tinman https://ift.tt/32Ob8oZ

[Discussion] Adding another dog to family https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Currently have a cockapoo who is 13 almost 14 years old and still healthy with decent energy for his age. We are getting a 12 week old sheepadoodle tomorrow. Wondering if the new dog will make my current dog feel sad or left out at all or any negative affects possibly? dogs jnova14

Currently have a cockapoo who is 13 almost 14 years old and still healthy with decent energy for his age. We are getting a 12 week old sheepadoodle tomorrow. Wondering if the new dog will make my current dog feel sad or left out at all or any negative affects possibly? Submitted October 25, 2019 at 04:02AM by jnova14 https://ift.tt/2BFFxd5

[Fluff] My dog gives me a reason to wake up every morning. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J No text found dogs missmisery8

No text found Submitted October 25, 2019 at 04:58AM by missmisery8 https://ift.tt/2JmURiW

[Help] Stray we took in gave birth https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Probably about a month ago I found a stray walking down my street. My brother called animal control but no one every came. We have been taking care of her and we thought she might be a breeder dog. Tonight as I was about to head out I remembered I hadnt seen her since this morning and went to check on her. I found her on my brothers bed (a pretty chilly room but has plenty of blankets) with two pups one stillbirth and one I didnt see at first because they were nursing. Any advice would help. Thanks all dogs blue_eyed_babe42

Probably about a month ago I found a stray walking down my street. My brother called animal control but no one every came. We have been taking care of her and we thought she might be a breeder dog. Tonight as I was about to head out I remembered I hadnt seen her since this morning and went to check on her. I found her on my brothers bed (a pretty chilly room but has plenty of blankets) with two pups one stillbirth and one I didnt see at first because they were nursing. Any advice would help. Thanks all Submitted October 25, 2019 at 02:11AM by blue_eyed_babe42 https://ift.tt/2MMFmms

[Vent] YSK: Banfield Pet Hospital Wellness Plan After Pet Passes https://ift.tt/eA8V8J So Banfield charges us as usual this month, three weeks after cremation. We call to ask if they made a mistake. Nope, after 13 years of paying for a wellness plan, after killing our dog, they still want us to pay another 2 months because there were 3 months left on our plan for the year. They took that last payment, they're keeping it and want how ever many more months after our pet died. TLDR: Banfield Pet Hospital wants us to continue paying 3 months more, after almost 14 years of never missing a payment. On our beloved pet who's passed. Morbid note: The Banfield vet had been indicating it was time to put our Chihuahua down, that same vet performed the euthanasia. They recommended against the propofol... I wish I let the poor thing have the propofol. dogs Uf-Dah

So Banfield charges us as usual this month, three weeks after cremation. We call to ask if they made a mistake. Nope, after 13 years of paying for a wellness plan, after killing our dog, they still want us to pay another 2 months because there were 3 months left on our plan for the year. They took that last payment, they're keeping it and want how ever many more months after our pet died. TLDR: Banfield Pet Hospital wants us to continue paying 3 months more , after almost 14 years of never missing a payment. On our beloved pet who's passed. Morbid note: The Banfield vet had been indicating it was time to put our Chihuahua down, that same vet performed the euthanasia. They recommended against the propofol... I wish I let the poor thing have the propofol. Submitted October 25, 2019 at 01:15AM by Uf-Dah https://ift.tt/2pNYTdm

[RIP] Wallabee, GSD, 8 years old https://ift.tt/eA8V8J It's been one month today that I had to say goodbye to my best friend, Wallabee. On his paperwork Wallabee was described as a standard German Shepherd Dog, but by no means was that who he was. He was the world's happiest dog, a gentle giant, compassionate and loved everyone - he was my best friend. He was often mistaken for a King Shepherd due to his size. I don't know how he got so big as his mother was 70 lbs and his dad was 80. Wallabee was lean, but stood tall at 100 lbs - who knew being too tall and too gentle would cost him his CKC as these were "defects" by professional standards. I first visited the breeder with an ex as we were looking to get a dog. We saw the cutest little GSD puppies, but I wasn't sure about getting a dog. On the property I was introduced to Shen, a standard Black / Tan GSD who was the father of the current puppies. I also had the pleasure of meeting Kilte, a silver standard GSD who was breathtakingly beautiful. I had never seen a silver Shepherd before and was informed by the breeder that Kilte was going to have a litter of puppies as well. She was not supposed to be pregnant at this time but Shen had gotten up to some shenanigans. I was excited that I could possibly get a silver Shepherd as well and made plans to return after the next litter of pups. From this union Wallabee was born July 2, 2011. I visited somewhere in the 5-6 week mark - there were no silver pups in the litter, but there was one who chose me, barreling over his brothers and sisters and cried at my feet - I didn't choose Wallabee, he chose me. I finished up the paperwork with the breeder, put down my deposit and returned a few weeks later to be reunited with the little fluffball who had stolen my heart. Wallabee was mischievous and tried to get into everything, but he was also very trainable. As he came from a large litter (10 pups) he had a natural tendancy to eat and drink really fast - I had to teach him that he didn't have to fight for food and water, so for weeks I hand-fed him each kibble to slow him down, portioned out water, but refilled it often. Over time he learned to take his time. It also meant you could reach in his mouth and pull a piece of steak out that he was eating. Not only would he let you he'd almost spit it out so there was no chance he'd bite you. We went everywhere together and I socialized him with as many dogs, people and experiences that I could. When he was only a few months old the trouble started; during a walk he found some horse poop and before I knew it he had a mouthful and was chewing vigorously. I managed to pull most of it out but he did swallow some while I was scooping his mouth with my fingers. He became ill and this was our first unscheduled trip to the vet. I learned that where I live, Mennonites typically don't vaccinate their horses and that poop Wallabee ate was full of nasty stuff. A large bill and some antibiotics later he was right as rain. It wasn't long after that we were playing in the yard and again he found something to eat - this time it was some random mushrooms growing in the grass. Back to the vet we went and again another large bill to get him healthy. Again shortly after this I returned home from work and my ex told me Wallabee had gotten a hold of a C or D cell battery. He had punctured it, but she hadn't called me or taken him to the vet because he looked fine. I was livid. I rushed him to the emergency vet who gave me some stuff to coat his stomach and neutralize whatever had gotten into his mouth. This was the beginning of the end of my ex and myself. In the split I made it clear she could take whatever she wanted but I was keeping Wallabee. I made a promise to him to always take care of him and purchased the best pet insurance I could. About a year later he'd meet his new mom when I started dating again. I found a wonderful woman who entered our lives very quickly. A few months later I had to leave for a business trip in HK for two weeks, Wallabee stayed with my family for the first week and my girlfriend watched him for the second. During this time they bonded and became inseparable. She'd later confess to me that when she first met Wallabee she was terrified as she was bitten by a GSD as a child. From then on I'd jokingly complain to her that she broke Wallabee as he became a dog that DEMANDED cuddles. Every day when I came home from work he'd greet me then race up the stairs, jump on the bed and roll over to receive his cuddles - this was our ritual for the next 6 years. Despite being large and apparently intimidating, he loved people and other dogs. For small dogs he'd lay on the ground and wait for them to approach so they'd play with him. He had a nickname with everyone who met him - world's happiest dog. He loved camping and chipmunks. He'd sing to certain songs when I played guitar (theme to the Legend of Zelda), he'd chase deer and rabbits in the woods near us, but had exceptional recall - when I called he'd break chase and return immediately. I was always impressed that his will was stronger than his prey drive. He loved to swim. If there was water and he knew you weren't paying attention he'd wait until you weren't looking and run in it. He was also a velcro dog and would never be more than 10-20 feet away. If you broke line of sight he'd find you - this made for great games of hide and seek, although he always won. He also loved his Barkbox subscription and every month when it came he'd patiently sit in front of you waiting to open the box, his tail making an excited "whap whap whap" sound. If I was working at home, on an ipad or on my phone he'd come up beside me and nudge me with his nose to let me know work was done and it was time to play. For how large he was he was incredibly nimble and stealthy. This was most evident when you were cooking in the kitchen, but the "whap whap whap" of his tail always gave him away. There's a million more great memories with him that I'll cherish forever, but these are just a few I wanted to share. On September 4, 2019 Wallabee stopped eating and we became concerned. We took him to the vet and after various tests determined there was an abnormality in his blood work. They recommended we send him for more tests to a private emergency clinic a little over an hour away. We got the call 1.5 days later and my heart sunk. My best friend, my little puppy had Hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer. Our options were remove his spleen and start him on chemo or begin palliative care. With Chemo and the surgery he would have a 50/50 chance of living another 3 months, without the vet told us a maximum of two weeks. We were told that he wasn't in pain, so we opted to make him comfortable - I took vacation time, personal emergency days and sick days to make sure he was never alone - we made every minute count. He seemed to rebound and was back to the happy puppy we were used to and we were told this was normal, but the two tumors on his spleen were ticking time bombs. The vet told us the longest she'd seen a dog live for at this stage was two weeks. Wallabee gave us 2.5 wonderful weeks before it was time. He got to eat steak dinners, try McDonalds, eggs and bacon, roast beef dinners and plenty of other deliciousness - It's important to note that I was overly strict on his diet his whole life and human food wasn't something he'd get from me (my parents can't make this same claim). September 23 in the evening he stopped eating again and went to the back to lay down. We comforted him, told him we loved him and things went down hill fast. On September 24 at 1:33 am we had to take our best friend to the vet for his forever sleep. I miss him every day, but am truly grateful for all that he taught me. I know one day the good memories will outweigh the pain, but for now I just miss my best friend. Please hug your fur babies a little more and cherish every moment. Some photos of Wallabee: https://imgur.com/a/DTFtjXU dogs Exoctane

It's been one month today that I had to say goodbye to my best friend, Wallabee. On his paperwork Wallabee was described as a standard German Shepherd Dog, but by no means was that who he was. He was the world's happiest dog, a gentle giant, compassionate and loved everyone - he was my best friend. He was often mistaken for a King Shepherd due to his size. I don't know how he got so big as his mother was 70 lbs and his dad was 80. Wallabee was lean, but stood tall at 100 lbs - who knew being too tall and too gentle would cost him his CKC as these were "defects" by professional standards. I first visited the breeder with an ex as we were looking to get a dog. We saw the cutest little GSD puppies, but I wasn't sure about getting a dog. On the property I was introduced to Shen, a standard Black / Tan GSD who was the father of the current puppies. I also had the pleasure of meeting Kilte, a silver standard GSD who was breathtakingly beautiful. I had never seen

[discussion] Big dogs in the small dog park https://ift.tt/eA8V8J My neighborhood park has two sections for big and small dogs, respectively. We’ve been going there at least once a week for the last 3 months and only twice have there been other small dogs in that section of the park. The big dog section usually has a healthy crowd of regulars with lots of activity. This works out pretty great for me and my small dog because she can be aggressive depending on the temperament of the other dog, so we just go to the small side and play fetch for a while and come home. However, twice this week we’ve gone to the park and there have been big dogs in the small dog side. One time, there were two pitt mixes with their owners but no other dogs. I didn’t say anything and we went on a walk instead because I assumed their dogs maybe had some issues like mine and figured it was nbd to just let them have the space to themselves. Tonight, while I was at the park with my dog, someone came up with their two senior big dogs and asked if they could join and they “wouldn’t cause any trouble..” If I’m being honest, it annoys me a little. Partly because I had to pick up a large pile of poop that someone hadn’t bothered to clean up, but mostly because I get frustrated by the assumption that as long as the big dogs are “nice” there’s no problem. Frankly, my dog doesn’t like big dogs no matter their temperament and that’s why we stick to our side! And it feels unfair that my dog is being asked to be uncomfortable and intimidated because you don’t want to have your dogs in the other section for whatever reason. Admittedly this is a little bit of a vent post, but I’m also genuinely curious about etiquette in these situations. I’d feel like a huge asshole for saying no to the senior dogs or asking the other people to leave but it also feels like they’re being disrespectful too? Why can’t everyone just stick to their side? dogs funnysimple

My neighborhood park has two sections for big and small dogs, respectively. We’ve been going there at least once a week for the last 3 months and only twice have there been other small dogs in that section of the park. The big dog section usually has a healthy crowd of regulars with lots of activity. This works out pretty great for me and my small dog because she can be aggressive depending on the temperament of the other dog, so we just go to the small side and play fetch for a while and come home. However, twice this week we’ve gone to the park and there have been big dogs in the small dog side. One time, there were two pitt mixes with their owners but no other dogs. I didn’t say anything and we went on a walk instead because I assumed their dogs maybe had some issues like mine and figured it was nbd to just let them have the space to themselves. Tonight, while I was at the park with my dog, someone came up with their two senior big dogs and asked if they could join and they “would

[rehoming] [help] I can’t make this difficult decision to rehome my dog https://ift.tt/eA8V8J I have a 1 year old GSD... since he was young he’s been reactive. He used to bark and lunge a lot but now he doesn’t as much. Recently he nipped a stranger passing by and since then I’ve been scarred and unable to trust him. This is my first dog and I never imagined it like this. I really wanted a friendly dog to take everywhere but I can’t take my dog anywhere. He’s not even considered a dog park kind of dog to our trainer and said it’s not good to put him in many social situations as he does not like it. This has become so disheartening and makes me mourn for the dog I wanted... I feel so guilty I want to spend more money on training but my boyfriend has had enough of spending money on training. I feel guilty about rehoming him and I don’t want to but despite training I’m not always comfortable handling him. I know I made a mistake choosing the breed I did. I am posting this because I feel lost. I’m not sure how I will ever know if rehoming is best for all of us. dogs starrynightxox

I have a 1 year old GSD... since he was young he’s been reactive. He used to bark and lunge a lot but now he doesn’t as much. Recently he nipped a stranger passing by and since then I’ve been scarred and unable to trust him. This is my first dog and I never imagined it like this. I really wanted a friendly dog to take everywhere but I can’t take my dog anywhere. He’s not even considered a dog park kind of dog to our trainer and said it’s not good to put him in many social situations as he does not like it. This has become so disheartening and makes me mourn for the dog I wanted... I feel so guilty I want to spend more money on training but my boyfriend has had enough of spending money on training. I feel guilty about rehoming him and I don’t want to but despite training I’m not always comfortable handling him. I know I made a mistake choosing the breed I did. I am posting this because I feel lost. I’m not sure how I will ever know if rehoming is best for all of us. Submitted Oc

[Discussion] Do you let dogs lick your face? https://ift.tt/eA8V8J I love it, and will literally let any dog lick my face for as long as they want. I even lie down to make it easier 😂 dogs Ignoring_PhD

I love it, and will literally let any dog lick my face for as long as they want. I even lie down to make it easier 😂 Submitted October 24, 2019 at 02:58AM by Ignoring_PhD https://ift.tt/2Wbafo4

[Fluff] The only thing that keeps me grounded https://ift.tt/eA8V8J This is going to be long and sappy so TLDR at the bottom In the past few months my life has changed very dramatically. I am 21 and did not go away to college, but instead went to a local community college to learn computer networking. After getting a job that was too far for me to drive every day I ended up moving out on my own sooner than I had planned. After working at my new job for a few months, I was put on the evening shift solo. And being new to my area I did not know anyone and most of the time did not have anyone to talk to at work. Within a few weeks I began to feel quite depressed and lonely. Going to work to an empty office and then coming back home to an empty apartment. I thought maybe adopting a dog would help alleviate the need for interaction. I talked to my Mom about it and she was initially against the idea (She is a very practical person, but she loves dogs so much that I knew it wouldn't take much to get her to come around). She asked her friend who works with the Humane Society of North Texas if she knew of any dogs that would fit what we were looking for (Low shedding and low energy/ Senior dog). After a few days she told us about a 10 year old Aussie / Collie mix named Roscoe, and as luck would have it there was a "Clear the Shelters" event at the shelter where Roscoe was so there wouldn't be any adoption fee. I drove to my mothers house that Saturday morning to meet up with her friend and have a face to face meeting with Roscoe. When he came in, his fur was matted and he smelled awful. He seemed so happy when I pet him. And even though he was 15 lbs underweight I knew I was going to adopt him. I signed the paperwork and decided to change his name to Bosco (after the Earth King's pet bear from The Last Airbender) Fast forward 2 months and now we both are doing much better. The cloud of loneliness that hovered over me has disappeared, and Bosco is at a healthy weight with more energy than a 10 year old dog ever should. I think that even though I rescued him, he rescued me just as much. Obligatory Dog Tax TLDR: I began a new job and moved out of my mothers house, after working alone and living alone for weeks. I decided to adopt a dog. Now we are both happy and healthy. dogs Tehgreatbrownie

This is going to be long and sappy so TLDR at the bottom In the past few months my life has changed very dramatically. I am 21 and did not go away to college, but instead went to a local community college to learn computer networking. After getting a job that was too far for me to drive every day I ended up moving out on my own sooner than I had planned. After working at my new job for a few months, I was put on the evening shift solo. And being new to my area I did not know anyone and most of the time did not have anyone to talk to at work. Within a few weeks I began to feel quite depressed and lonely. Going to work to an empty office and then coming back home to an empty apartment. I thought maybe adopting a dog would help alleviate the need for interaction. I talked to my Mom about it and she was initially against the idea (She is a very practical person, but she loves dogs so much that I knew it wouldn't take much to get her to come around). She asked her friend who works

Help identifying the breed [Help] https://ift.tt/eA8V8J I brought home a new puppy and am unsure of her breed. I was told mini Aussie / golden retriever mix. Any ideas ? Picture dogs BTRxG

I brought home a new puppy and am unsure of her breed. I was told mini Aussie / golden retriever mix. Any ideas ? Picture Submitted October 24, 2019 at 02:18AM by BTRxG https://ift.tt/2pQT2DW

[Discussion] Would you be interested in a DIY dog food YouTube channel? https://ift.tt/eA8V8J I've been making fresh food for my pup for close to a year now and I was thinking of doing a YouTube channel about it. My girl loves it and it's not that time consuming to do. It'd be a how to on making fresh food and various treats for out beloved companions but before I dive headfirst, is this something people would be interested in? dogs PixelHerps

I've been making fresh food for my pup for close to a year now and I was thinking of doing a YouTube channel about it. My girl loves it and it's not that time consuming to do. It'd be a how to on making fresh food and various treats for out beloved companions but before I dive headfirst, is this something people would be interested in? Submitted October 24, 2019 at 02:06AM by PixelHerps https://ift.tt/2W9FQGp

Animal Abuse as a Felony Bill Passes in House [discussion] https://ift.tt/eA8V8J WASHINGTON - Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bipartisan bill that would make animal cruelty a federal felony. The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or PACT Act, would make it easier to prosecute those involved in the gruesome killing of animals. Specifically, the bill prohibits the intentional acts of crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling or otherwise subjecting animals to serious bodily harm. Those convicted would face federal felony charges, fines and up to seven years in prison. (Excerpt from Fox13 article, Oct 23, 2019) dogs Ceeeceeeceee